Cover retainer for containers



N 1941- c. A. HIRSCHBERG COVER RETAINER FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 5, 1939 Fig: 15'

Charles A. Hirschlaar ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED STATESe PATENT OFFICE COVER RETAINER FOR CONTAINERS Charles A. Hirschberi Mountain Lakes, N. Applicatio'n'December 5, 1939, Serial No. 307,554; Claims. (01. 215-82) This invention relates to containers and covers therefor, such as are used by housewives in the preserving of various food stuifs such as jellies, marmalades and the like, and more particularly to means for holding the cover or lid securely upon the glass or container.

In putting up or preserving jellies and like food stufis housewives employ glasses as containers. These glasses are either purchased for the purpose or are glasses which have been previously used as containers for other edibles. In sealing the food stuffs in the containersa layer of paraffine is generally placed "over the top of the food stuffs and the glass orcontainr is finally closed by a tin, cover. The tin. covers,

which may be purchased separately from the glasses, very seldom fitthe glasses with suflicient tightness and as a consequence they fall off or become dislodged during the moving of the filled glasses to and from thestorage space and when the glasses or containers are moved about in the storage space for selection of the particular edible desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide asimple, inexpensive, easily applied and detached means for preventing 'the dislodgment of the covers of the glasses or containers, which means also serves as convenient means for removing the layer of parafilne from the top of the edible contents of the container.

With these and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawing, showing a cover retainer for containers of the preferred form embodyingthe invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims;

In the drawing: j

Figure 1 is a section through afilled container showing the improved cover retainer in place.

Figure 2 is a plan view of 'the blank of sheet metal from which the retainer is formed.

Figure 3 is a top plan of the formed retainer.

Figure 4 is an edge elevation of the formed retainer.

Figure tainer.

Figure 6 is a top plan of a cover used in connection with the retainer.

Figure 7 is a top plan of a modified form of the retainer.

Figure 8 is a vertical section through the modifled form of the retainer.

5 is a side elevation or the formed re- "Figure 9 is a side elevation of the modified.

, form of the retainer.

Figure 10 is a top plan of a cover showing a still further modified form of the retainer associated therewith.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the modified form of retainer illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a top planof the cover used with the modified form of retainer shown in Figure 11.

Figure'lB is a plan of the blank strip from which the modified form of retainer shown in Figure 11, is formed.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, A indicates a glass or other suitable container for jelly, marmalade or the like, indicated at B. In preserving jellies and'the' likefit is the custom to pour a layer of molten paraffine on the top of the food stufi, which hardens and forms an air tight seal for the container. Such a layer of parafiine is shown at C in Figure 1 of the draw- The container or glass A- has a metal cover I of the usual type, the annular flange 2 of which fits over the mouth or top of the glass or container A and forms a prctection'for the layer of paraffine C.

The covers I which are made of sheet metal, rarely fit the container with suflicient tightness or friction to securely hold the cover in' place,

and this is especially true in cases where covers are purchased separately from the containers and used with glasses or containers that have previously been used for holding other food stuffs.

With the covers fitting loosely on the glasses orcontainers A, they become dislodged and fall all the glasses during movement of the glasses causing considerable inconvenience.

The present invention comprises a retainer for holding the covers upon thecontainers and preventing their accidental dislodgment. In the preferredform of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawing, the retainer 3 is cut from a fiat piece of pliable sheet metal, preferably rather thin so that it may be easily bent and also for keeping down the cost of the product. The blank from which the retainer is formed is in the form of a Georgian cross, with the two cross arms 4 and 5 much longer than the other two opposing cross arms 6 and l. The long cross arms 4 and 5 are folded back upon themselves and flat against their upper surfaces, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, and their free ends are again bent at right angles to the base or main body 8 of the retainer and in flat engagement with each other. The base 8 of the 1 and portions of the long arms 4 and 5, providing a base of a more truly Georgian cross shape, as

shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. The base 8 of the retainer 3 is imbedded in the layer of parafiine when the layer is poured onto the contents of the glass. That is, a part of the parafline is first poured into the glass over the food stuff, then the retainer is placed in position, and the remainder of the paraifine is poured in, so that when the parafiine hardens the retainer 3 will be imbedded at its base in the sealing layer C of paraffine.

The tongues 9 are passed through the slot 1!] formed in the cover I and are folded over, as clearly shown in Figure l of the drawing, thereby forming a lock to hold the cover I securely in place upon the glass or container A.

The outer sides of the tips of the tongues 9 are treated in any suitable manner, such as by matte enamel, so as 'to provide a'surface 'upon which suitable indicia may be written with lead pencil, ink or the like,by the housewife, thereby permitting her to readily determine the contents of the container A, and if desired the year in which it was put up. This feature is illustrated at l l in Figure 5 of the drawing.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figures '7, 8 and 9 and in this form a circular disk of sheet metal is'provided which has a tongue 2| cut from its periphery inwardly towards or beyond its center, dependent upon the size of the disk and the length of the tongue desired. The tongue 2 I 'is bent at right angles to the disk 20, as clearly shown in Figure 8, and it has its tip treated as shown at22 to facilitate the writing of a legend or indicia thereon. The operation of this'modified'form of retainer is exactly the same as that for the preferred form. That is, the disk base 20 is imbedded in a layer of parafiine on the top of the contents of the container, the tongue is inserted through the slot in the cover, and then folded over to lock the cover in place.

A still further modified form of the invention is shown in Figures '10 to 13 inclusive. This latter, modified form of retainer is made from a flat strip of soft, pliable sheet metal, as shown, at in Figure 13 of the drawing, and it is folded or bent along transverse lines, indicated at 3| inwardly of each of its ends to provide the central base 32 and the right-angle extending tongues 33. In'use, the base 32 is 'imbedded in the layer of parafline on the top of the contents of the container and the tongues 33 are inserted through spaced slots 34 in the cover 35 and have their tips folded over, as shown in Figure 10 of the drawing. The outer surfaces of the 'tips 33 are treated in any suitable manner so as'to permit writing of a suitable legend thereon.

In removing the covers from the glasses when using any one or all of the various forms of retainers shown, the folded-over tip of the locking tongues are bent back to their straight position and the cover of the container is slipped over and off of the straightened tongues. The tongues then act as finger grips by'means of which the retainer and the layer of parafline may be easily and conveniently removed from the container without disrupting the contents, thereby eliminating the use of a knife, fork or other instrument for removing the parafiine and also permitting the emptying of the jelly or the like onto a suitable plate without marring or disrupting the shape and body of the food stuff.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown, but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a container of a cover forming a closure for the container, said cover having a slot cut therein, sealing material in said container of a cover retaining member cut from a single piece of pliable metal and shaped to form a base spaced from said cover for imbedment in said sealing material, and a tongue, said tongue inserted through the slot in the cover and bent over for engagement with the outer surface of 'the cover to prevent accidental'dislodgment of the cover.

2. The combination with a container containing a food stuff and a sealing layer of parafiine on the top of the food stuff, and a cover for said container, of a cover retaining member embodying a base imbedded in said layer of parafiine, said cover provided with a slot therein, a tongue formed on said base and extending through said slot, said tongue being folded over into fiat engagement with the cover to hold the cover in place, said cover retainer forming means for removing said layer ofparafiine from the container after'the cover has been removed.

3. The-combination with a container, sealing material in the container of a cover engaging and forming a closure for the container, said cover having a slot therein, a cover retaining member embodying a base for embedment in saidsealing material, a tongue formed on aid base and extending through said slot, said tongue being folded over into engagement with the outer surface of the cover to hold the cover in place and to permit the tongue to be straightened for removal of the cover without disturbing the base.

4. The combination with a container, sealing material in the container of a cover engaging and forming a closure for the container, said cover having a slot therein, a cover retaining member, aid cover retaining member formed of a disc for embedment in said sealing material, and a tongue out from said disc and extending through said slot, said tongue being folded over into engagement with the outer surface of said cover to hold the cover in place.

5.The combination with a container, sealing material in the container of a cover engaging and forming a closure for the container, said cover having a slot therein, a cover retaining member, said cover retaining member formed of a disc for .embedment in said sealing material, and a tongu vcut from said disc .and extending through said slot, said tongue being folded over into engagement with the outer surface of said cover to hold the cover in place, the bent over portion of said tongue being treated to permit marking of indicia thereon.

CHARLES A. HIRSCI-IEBERG. 

